Employee Handbook: A Guide to Design HR Booklets

An employee handbook is a must-have for any organization, no matter how big or small. It’s a one-stop shop for everything employees need to know about your company, from its mission and values to its policies and procedures. This employee manual collects crucial information and it’s easily accessible.

You can use Publuu’s booklet creator to make your employee handbook so that your workers will be better orientated – and will be able to browse the book on their phones and mobile devices. Employee handbooks can be easily available online with realistic, page-turning animation which will showcase your mission using modern technologies.

From our article, you’ll learn what is an employee handbook, how to create it, what are the main benefits of creating it and many more!

What is an employee handbook?

An employee handbook is a company-issued document that is a key resource for both managers and workers in a company. It usually contains crucial information about the company’s rules, policies, and processes. You can use it to inform employees about your main company values, brand values, and ideas.

The purpose of the employee handbook is to make sure that workers know exactly what is expected of them and what they can expect from the company. It usually talks about things like how to act at work, a code of ethics, perks, leave policies, applicable laws, safety rules, and other important parts of a job. It may also include information about the company’s past, purpose, and beliefs, which helps new workers fit in with the company’s culture and goals.

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What should be included in an employee handbook?

The following sections should be included in the staff handbook:

Welcome and first instructions for new employees: This section should give new employees an idea of the company and its culture, as well as basic information – from what a typical workday is like to answer questions like “Where is the restroom.”

Company information: In this section, you should discuss the company’s history, purpose, core company values, and what goods or services you offer. Many employees should already know this information – but it doesn’t hurt to remind them.

Company policies and culture: This section should explain the company’s policies regarding, for example, employee behavior at work, what to wear (dress code), how often to show up, when to take time off, and safety regulations. Employment policies need to be explained for each department. If an electrician is 5 minutes late – he can stay 5 minutes longer, but a teacher or doctor has no right to be late. The handbook should also explain the company’s atmosphere and rules, and how employees are expected to fit in.

Legal requirements: This section should include information on how the company complies with all relevant laws and policies, such as anti-discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, parental leave, paid time off, and similar laws. Many countries have legal standards regarding all employees, but not all employees have the right types of contracts, so this can vary even in a single EU country and US state.

Paid leave policies: This section should explain the company’s policy on vacation, sick leave, personal leave, and other types of paid leave. Likewise, it depends on local workplace regulations and individual companies.

Benefits: This part should discuss the company’s benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and everything else – especially in countries like the US where there are no federal government alternatives.

Promotions and compensation: This section should explain how the company handles promotions, performance reviews, and compensation. In some countries it may be illegal to quote salaries – in others to conceal them, so you need to know exactly what the relevant laws are.

Discipline and dismissal policies: This section should explain the company’s policies on discipline and dismissal, including the stages of punishment and the reasons for dismissal.

There are also many other ways to include information in your booklets, like anti-harassment policy, performance management criteria, and so on – include everything you design necessary – you might even want to add a couple of blank pages for taking notes!

Benefits of an employee handbook

Benefits for employees

You create employee handbooks for the benefit of your new and existing hires. This contains the most useful information and everything that a new employee might need to avoid getting lost in the company.

• Transparency: an employee handbook makes it clear to the employee what is expected of them and what they can expect from the company. This can help reduce confusion and stress and create a more positive and productive work environment. Instead of wasting time instructing newcomers, already hired employees will be able to be more productive.

• Fairness: You immediately state the requirements and benefits that apply to everyone. An employee handbook ensures that all employees are treated fairly and consistently. It also provides a framework for resolving disputes and addressing employee concerns.

• Empowerment: An employee handbook gives employees a sense of power by providing them with the information they need to succeed in their positions. You can ensure that employees know exactly what their responsibilities and rights are.

Benefits for employers

Creating an employee handbook primarily benefits your business – it’s a value-added proposal large companies can’t ignore.

• Consistency: an employee handbook helps ensure consistency in the application of company policies and procedures. This can help reduce the risk of disputes and legal problems. You can’t claim that you haven’t explained the rules – have a handbook prepared!

• Transparency: an employee handbook shows employees that the company is transparent and committed to fair treatment. This can help build trust and morale.

• Efficiency: An employee handbook can help save HR professionals and managers time by providing ready references to answer employee questions and concerns.
  
  

Employee handbook design tips

If you want to prepare a good employee handbook, it’s worth making it memorable to others. Here are some tips you might find useful in designing one.

Use a clear and consistent layout. The handbook should be easy to navigate, with beautiful front cover and back cover designs, clear headings, subheadings, and sections. Use a consistent font size and style throughout the document and use white space to make the text easy to read. If you use any technical terms in your manual, be sure to include a glossary that defines them.

Remember to stay consistent with your company design – your employee handbook should look similar to the product catalogs, booklets, and event programs you distribute. You can pick recognizable colors and fonts or graphical elements like logos or shading to stand out from the crowd.

Use high-quality images and graphics. Visual elements can help break up the text and make the textbook more engaging. Choose high-quality ones that match your company’s brand and culture. Put a high-quality photo on your front cover to draw attention. Infographics are also a great way to present complex information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand way.

Use color sparingly. Too much color can be distracting and make the manual difficult to read. Use color in moderation to highlight important information or create a visual hierarchy. Using color will draw attention to key text, for example. You can use blank pages to create breathers and divide chapters.

Use a consistent style. The handbook should have a consistent style throughout the text, from the font and its size to the colors and graphics. This will help create a professional and polished look. Try to set your layout to single pages and not overuse the spreads.

Make the manual accessible online. More and more people are accessing information on their mobile devices. Digital ebooks from Publuu can help you do this. Make sure your employee handbook is formatted for viewing on mobile devices. Publuu flipbooks do not create a PDF, but they are easy to view on any device that supports HTML-5.

Prepare your employee handbook for printing. If you don’t want to use simple and easy Publuu flipbooks, save your file in the format and convert it to CMYK color mode so that it’s easy to print out!

Employee handbook examples

This great employee handbook shows an excellent layout, and a great design of the front cover, and showcases everything a new employee needs. It shows the important part of development, from growth to motivation, and helps the workers to develop.

This well-designed employee handbook shows proper procedures and describes what services the dentistry company offers. It will help the workers with proper conduct and belonging to the team.

Conclusion

The Employee Handbook is a key resource for both employees and employers. It provides employees with essential information about the company’s mission, values, policies and, procedures while promoting transparency, integrity, and consistency in the workplace.

Employers benefit from having a well-written handbook because it reduces confusion, saves time, and provides a value-added proposition to attract and retain top talent.

We hope our tips will help you create an employee handbook that is informative, engaging, and accessible to all employees.

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Ola Swiderska Author View profile

Aesthetics and minimalism enthusiast. Loves to explore the world, and travel is the meaning of her life. Amateur photographer and passionate about dogs. At work, she points her energy into crafting content that reflects her interest in literature and design.